How to deal with grief after the death of a pet

Miscellaneous / by admin / May 21, 2023

click fraud protection

Rituals and volunteer work at the shelter will help to cope with emotions.

Saying goodbye to your beloved dog, cat, parrot, hamster and any other pet is always hard. During the time that animals spend next to a person, they not only make his life brighter and more fun, but also become real family members. Here are some ways to cope with loss and get through a difficult period.

Give yourself a chance to grieve

Each person experiences grief in their own way. Whatever feelings you have, do not extinguish or ignore them. Remind yourself that your emotions are completely normal and need to be worked through in order to heal.

Anatoly Akimov

Existentially oriented therapist, author of the telegram channel "It's all right, what are you»

Pain and suffering are not the same thing, and different ways of avoiding pain often lead to suffering. That is, our attempts to restrain pain or not think about it become daily exhausting work. It takes away a large amount of resources that could go to "healing the wound".

instagram viewer

Your pet must have been a big part of your life, and losing one is really hard. It is important not to avoid, not to suppress, not to leave, but to accept that you are hurt. You have the right to your grief, you have the right to grieve the way you want, and you have as much time as you need.

Speak your feelings

You can pour out your soul to friends or discuss your experiences with a psychologist. But in any case, don't try to be strong. Allow yourself to be a living person and openly show emotions.

If you have no one to talk to, express your feelings in a letter and then burn it.

Talk to people who have had a similar experience

If there are people in your environment who have lost a pet, talk to them. They can share experiences and tell what helped them. You, in turn, will get an understanding listener who actually knows how you feel right now.

Anatoly Akimov

Existentially Oriented Therapist.

One of the most important paths to healing is talking to someone who understands you. Loss can also be experienced as isolation and alienation from other people. Your worlds with them are not that very different, rather, they can be felt as hopelessly incommensurable. It is important to find a person with whom you can share your pain and feel that you are no longer alone in this slightly separate world of yours.

Carry out rituals

Organize a funeral for your beloved pet or arrange a memorial evening. This will allow you and your family members to express the emotions of loss and support each other. In addition, rituals help put up with with what happened, survive and let go of the pain.

save memory

Plant a tree in honor of your pet, create an album with his photos and stories about him, or find another suitable way to honor the memory of a pet. Material things will remind you of the pleasant moments that you spent with your little friend.

fill the void

If you get up every morning at seven in the morning to walk the dog, try to keep the habit at least for the first time. Do something important and useful: start running, read books or listen to podcasts. This will give you a chance to relax a bit.

Become a volunteer

In animal shelters there are many wards to whom you can give your love and care. If you feel the need to give, you have the mental strength to do so and this will help you. heal, go to the nearest shelter or kennel and walk the dogs or spend time grooming for cats. Perhaps you will feel better.

Take care of yourself

Loss leads to stress, which sucks our energy and emotional resources. That is why it is very important to be attentive to your own needs and try to maintain your usual routine as much as possible.

Do not blame yourself for what happened, spend time with people who only make you feel good, watch your diet and sleep patterns. This will allow you not to slide into the abyss of grief and despair.